Full Notification

This afternoon at 3:00PM, two Sonoma County Deputies were patrolling in the area of Mooreland Ave. and West Robles Ave., Santa Rosa. At that time they observed a male subject walking with what appeared to be some type of a rifle. They immediately called for an emergency response from other deputies and officers that were in the area. The two deputies repeatedly ordered the subject to drop the rifle and at some point immediately thereafter, the deputies fired several rounds from their handguns at the subject striking him several times. The subject fell to the ground and landed on top of the rifle he was carrying.
After several commands ordering the subject to move away from the rifle deputies approached and placed him in handcuffs. At this point the subject was unresponsive. After securing the rifle the deputies began administering first aid and requested emergency medical aid from fire and ambulance. The subject was pronounced deceased at the scene by the responding paramedics.
The subject of the shooting is an unidentified male who may have lived in the area where this incident occurred. Once the scene was secured deputies learned that the rifle was a replica of an assault weapon. When the deputies searched the subject they also found a plastic hand gun in his waistband. Attached to this press release is a photo of the replica assault weapon the subject was carrying..
Pursuant to the Sonoma County Chiefs of Police Employee Involved Fatal Incident Protocol, this case is being investigated by the Santa Rosa Police Department, the Petaluma Police Department, and the District Attorney’s Office.
The Sonoma County Deputies who were involved in this incident have been placed on administrative leave, which is routine for such events.
Any media inquiries for this incident should be directed to the Santa Rosa Police Department per the Critical Incident Protocol.

Press Release prepared by Lt. Dennis O’Leary
Sonoma County Case Number 12-1022-17